MBA Roundup: How Three MBA Students Financed Their Degrees

cost of MBA

Ross School of Business: “Getting an MBA is a major investment in yourself that pays remarkable dividends, unlocking new career possibilities and connecting you to a highly accomplished global network. That said, it is still an investment, and many prospective students’ first question as they begin their journey toward an MBA is, “How am I going to pay for this?”

At Michigan Ross, there are a multitude of resources available to help fund your degree and life in Ann Arbor, from scholarships and fellowships to assistance for U.S. military veterans, childcare subsidies, loan support, and more. If you’re considering applying to the Michigan Ross Full-Time MBA Program, you can find a breakdown of tuition, fees, and other costs of attendance to help create your budget — but every applicant is different and will have different circumstances to consider.

To help address these unique circumstances, we asked three current students to tell us how they paid for their MBAs, including what resources they found helpful, how they navigated comparing offers between schools, and how they weighed program ROI.”

Alexis Black, MBA ’26

What tips would you give someone thinking about the return on investment of an MBA?

When evaluating ROI, do not limit it to salary outcomes alone. Think about the full picture. The network at Ross has been the most valuable return for me. Nearly everyone I know, including myself, secured internships and full-time roles through a Ross connection.

I made the difficult decision to turn down a full-ride offer elsewhere because the community, long-term opportunities, and values at Ross better aligned with my own. Sometimes the highest financial offer is not the highest return. Ask yourself: Which environment will help me grow, challenge me, and support my family or priorities the most?

How did you explore different loan options, and were there any helpful resources you took advantage of?

I started by comparing rates and terms through Juno and ultimately secured my loan through Earnest. What appealed to me was the collective negotiation across business schools, no processing fees, and the ability to secure a competitive rate.

As a parent, I also found far more support at U-M than I saw elsewhere, including the CEW+ Scholarship, emergency funding, childcare stipends, caregiver grants, and more. I created a flyer to help other students navigate these options because many people do not realize how much exists until they arrive.”

To continue reading about Alexis and two other Ross students, click here.

DON’T MISS: THE MBA PRICE TAG: 21 OF THE TOP 25 U.S. B-SCHOOLS NOW CHARGE $100K A YEAR OR MORE


Jose Manuel Campa, IESE Business School

Former Chair of the European Banking Authority Returns To IESE Faculty

IESE Business School: “José Manuel Campa, until now Chair of the European Banking Authority (EBA), rejoins the faculty of IESE Business School this March as Full Professor in the Departments of Financial Management and Economics. He will be based at IESE’s Madrid campus, where he will combine teaching with research.

Professor Campa thus brings to a close a period of more than six years at the helm of the European banking regulator, headquartered in Paris, during which he addressed key challenges such as the digitalization of the sector, the development of ESG regulation, and post-pandemic financial resilience.

“It has been an honor to serve Europe at a crucial moment for its financial architecture. I return to IESE with great enthusiasm, grateful for the opportunity to resume my academic vocation and contribute to the education of the leaders who will shape the future of the sector,” Campa said.”

To read more, click here.

DON’T MISS: MEET IESE BUSINESS SCHOOL’S MBA CLASS OF 2026


NYU Stern Entrance

NYU Stern Launches New Artificial Intelligence Specialization for MBA Students

Stern School: “NYU Stern today announced the launch of a specialization in AI featuring nine interdisciplinary elective courses for full-time and part-time MBA students. Beginning in fall 2026, Stern MBAs who opt to specialize can choose AI as one of their three areas of specialization. The specialization will require one core data science and AI class, at least one course focused on AI concepts and skills, such as a dedicated class on AI agents, and AI electives of the student’s choice.

According to NYU Stern’s Ilan Lobel, Fauvelais Family Professor of Data-Driven Operations, Academic Director of the Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA, AI specialization advisor, and leading figure in AI education:

“At Stern we have developed an AI in business curriculum that aims for both breadth and depth of AI expertise. We are creating entirely new classes where students will learn how AI can be used for core business functions such as finance and marketing, as well as hands-on classes where they will learn how to build AI agents. Our new AI specialization will get students ready to be active participants in the AI transformation happening in our economy.”

To read more, click here.

DON’T MISS: HOW AI IS RESHAPING THE MBA: MAJOR NEW REPORT OFFERS THE CLEAREST PICTURE YET OF A DRAMATICALLY CHANGED LANDSCAPE


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